Last updated September 6th 2023
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The Winners at a Glance
| Image | Product | Detail | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | S&W M&P Shield |
| Best Price |
 | Taurus GX4 |
| Best Price |
 | Canik TP9 SFX |
| Best Price |
 | Walther PDP |
| Best Price |
 | Palmetto State Armory Dagger |
| Best Price |
What Compact Pistol Beats a Glock? Lots of Them…
We really do have to give Glock credit for one of the slickest marketing jobs in American history. It’s the market leader, but there are some better Glock alternatives out there.
I have seen Glocks described as the Toyota Camry of the firearms world and I think it’s a fair call. It’s massively reliable, but it won’t set your pulse racing.
The famous Glock grip angle means you have to adapt to the gun, too, and a Glock is rarely a gun that just feels like an extension of your hand.
But what is the best Glock alternative for sale in 2023?
1. Smith & Wesson M&P
- Price: $349.99+
- Capacity: 10+1 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 3.1
- Total: 7.3
- Weight: 1.26lb
- Caliber: 9mm/ 40 S&W
Owner reviews generally put this well clear of the Glock 19, and it’s a cheaper weapon on the whole.
Those reviews include law enforcement officers, who often rely on the M&P Plus as their back up or main weapon.
You can get a full size, compact and sub-compact Smith & Wesson M&P polymer framed striker fired pistol is going head to head with the whole popular Glock line in truth.
You get 13+1 with an extended magazine, or 10+1 as nature intended it.
Smith & Wesson was late to the double stack magazine party and relied on the single stack pistol for too long, but now it is here then there are those that think this is more than just the best Glock alternative.
Especially Performance Center models with pistol red dots and an optional manual safety alongside the trigger safety. You can order a ported custom slide as well.
They truly are Glock killers/best compact pistols that aren’t a Glock on the market.
2. Taurus GX4
- Price: $299.99
- Barrel: 4 inch
- Total: 7.28 inch
- Weight: 1.55lb
- Capacity: 15+1
You might want the even cheaper Taurus G2C, and you might be right. But you can still buy a Taurus GX4 and have $150 in your pocket, or a Glock G43x.
And the Taurus GX4 really is a much better personal defense pistol than the $250 G2C, sub compact pistol for not that much more money. That might make it the best gun in this class and it is certainly a great Glock alternative.
The trigger is better and it’s a great polymer framed striker fired handgun. You get a simple trigger safety and a lot of molded plastic. But damn it works. This is the best cheap CCW here, even though it is slightly more expensive than its own sibling.
3. Canik TP9 SFX
- Price: $499.99
- Capacity: 18+1
- Barrel: 5.2
- Total: 7.5
- Weight: 1.8lb
- Caliber: 9mm
The Canik TP9 SFX is a great handgun in its own right, but that price is just insane for a gun with this much effort put into it.
You can buy a classic Glock 19 rival, the duty sized TP9SA, for about $400 by the way. This is the Glock 34 killer, a specialist for shooting targets at the range.
You get 18+1 rounds with the 9mm and the slide is easy to grab from just about everywhere. An extended magazine release and ambi safety all help maintain the illusion, and replaceable backstraps can tailor the grip.
These are real alternatives to the Glock 34, and you’ll save a lot of money. You can kit it out with suppressor height sights and a reflex, as there is a whole subculture growing round this gun.
4. Sig Sauer P365
- Price: $479.99
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Barrel: 3.1 inch
- Weight: 1lb
- Capacity: 10+1
The Sig Sauer P365 changed the firearms world when this micro compact pistol launched in 2018.
Now it has evolved into a model line with the more advanced Sig P365 X and the longer barrel XL. But the classic Sig P365 is a great gun and it’s the cheapest one in the line up too.
5. Arex Delta
- Price: $395.99
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Barrel length: 4 inch barrel
- Total: 7 inches long
- Weight: 1.2lb
- Capacity: 17+1
The budget friendly Arex Delta is an Eastern European entry from a company that supplies the Slovenian military, law enforcement officers and more.
This looks like a custom Glock19 with aftermarket slide serrations, trigger guard work, a custom stipple and other Glock upgrades. It’s lighter, easy to shoot and just about all the controls are perfectly thought out.
You can get threaded barrel versions with a more tactical flavor as well. They are some of the best compact 9mm pistols, and the DA/SA metal guns are nice as well.
In time this could join the Glock killers, best compact pistols that aren’t a Glock.
6. Beretta APX Centurion
- Price: $478.99
- Capacity: 15+1
- Barrel : 4.25
- Total: 17+1
- Weight: 1.7lb
- Caliber: 9mm
The Beretta APX Centurion didn’t get much love on these pages. But this is definitely cheaper than the Glock 19 and a mid-life redesign has made it much, much better.
Beretta can make great guns, and the 92 in all its forms is a legend. But it has struggled with polymer pistols and has effectively accepted mediocrity. The new compact handgun might change that.
The dimensions are basically Glock 19-esque. The grip on the Beretta APX Centurion is fat enough to pack in 17 rounds of 9mm too and we like the extended magazine release.
All of this makes for a solid polymer framed striker-fired pistol.
And yet, tired of going home from the disco alone, Beretta has lowered its prices. With this new price point, this APX Centurion lightweight pistol gets a fresh start. That might be enough to swing it and make this your favorite not a Glock…
7. Walther PDP
- Price: $649.99
- Capacity: 15+1
- Barrel: 5
- Total: 8
- Weight: 1.6lb
- Caliber: 9mm
The Walther PDP could only really compare to the Glock 34 and G17, so that covers the pricing concern.
This is another low budget Gucci Glock then, but it’s so much better than that. It’s also a tactical alternative to the company’s stellar Match pistols like the Walther PPQ Q5.
This is the new breed of optics ready version slide models, plastic pistols that look right at home with red dot sights with a plate that is similar to the Glock MOS system. Only the top tier Gucci Glock options come close to this OEM trigger job for a start
The optics ready models are potential gamechangers. The Walther PDP has arguably the sweetest out the box trigger pull on the market.
It is Optics Ready for pistol red dots and the grip module is way more advanced than anything stock Glock models can offer. It does have something approaching finger grooves, but they work so much better than the Gen 4 Glocks.
The Walther P99 is another enduring favorite as a carry pistol, but the modern Glock 43x with red dots is the best concealed carry gun out of those two.
8. CZ P-10 Compact
- Price: $379.99
- Barrel: 4.5
- Weight: 1.62lb
- Caliber: 9mm
- Capacity:15+1
This Eastern European special is getting a lot of love on the forums. The general feeling is that it’s a better gun than a real Glock 19 Gen 4, and about a match for the Gen5 19 Glock as a home defense gun.
The Glock Gen 5 has turned the tables quality wise in the latest reviews, but this is still a great gun and still wins on price. And we like the push button slide lock, accessory rail and interchangeable backstraps that help you fit like a glove.
You can buy Glock clones from every corner of the globe now, but these command the next level of respect. This budget friendly manufacturer is a real problem for the Austrians in the group tests.
We like the Double Action/Single Action, the CZ 75, too, but it would be a controversial inclusion here. So the Double Action/Single Action hammer fired handguns can wait for another day.
9. Palmetto State Armory Dagger
- Price: $299.99
- Barrel: 3.9 inch
- Total: 7.15″
- Weight: 1.4lb
Palmetto State Armory is a legend in the world of cheap AR-15s and now it has tried to weave the same magic with its first 9mm handgun: the PSA Dagger.
The Palmetto State Armory Dagger are basically budget Glock pistols with some ambitious touches. They include a Diamond Like Carbon finish on the barrel, front serrations on the slide and what looks like the kind of stippling you find on factory custom guns on the grip panels of the PSA Dagger.
Now the shooting experience and the spec sheet are two different things, but the Palmetto State Armory Dagger is still a perfectly acceptable budget gun for self and home defense. The counterpart Glock models are better, but these are a lot cheaper than Glock compacts.
And you can order an optics ready, red dots ready version slide, any color combo and basically any spec. Essentially it’s a reverse engineered Glock clone, but it has also evolved into a unique model over time.
The PSA Dagger has evolved from a simple Glock clone into an entire model line. You can spend more than $400 on a PSA Dagger these days, if you go for ALL the bells and whistles with this polymer frame pistol.
Are they real Glock 19 killers/best compact pistols that aren’t a Glock? In some, very limited ways, yes.
10. Springfield Armory Hellcat
- Price: $549.99
- Capacity: 11+1
- Barrel length: 3.1 inch barrel
- Weight: 1.1lb
The Springfield Armory Hellcat has kicked the Glock 43x out of a lot of carry holsters around the United States.
It has an awesome trigger pull and these real Glock killers have also given the little Sig P365 striker fired handgun a lot of sleepless nights. The Hellcat is smaller than the Glock pistols and these polymer frame carry guns come with a lot of premium features.
A low profile slide lock and mag release are just two of those, and those grip panels are much better than the old XD grip zone.
Try the Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm handgun, and you might be in for a major surprise. It’s not particularly cheap, but it could easily become your favorite not a Glock pistol.
11. Sig Sauer P320 Compact
- Price: $499.99
- Capacity: 17+1
- Barrel Length (Inches): 4
- Length (Inches): 7.2
- Weight: 1.6lb
- Caliber: 9mm/45 ACP
The Sig Sauer P320 Compact pistol has been left in the shade by the 365 XL and all its variants. That means you can find gun deals, and this is still a great EDC.
It fits the same profile as a Glock 19 and the Sig P320 is a better gun for many of us, as well as military & law enforcement adopting these polymer framed striker fired handguns as a service weapon.
The grip angle feels more natural on this compact handgun and it’s just a wonderful looking thing with a serious accessory rail. So, these could be the Glock 19 killers you’ve been looking for.
These are high quality Glock 19 killers, best compact pistols that aren’t a Glock.
Don’t Forget the Glock Clones
Glock Clones from the likes of Shadow Systems have evolved into a subculture, and you can now easily build a Glock clone with custom pieces.
You can build cut price Glock clones or spend exponentially more on a match grade pistol with an optics ready slide and upgraded everything. That can include a grip module from the likes of Wilson Combat, or a complete pistol from Shadow Systems that costs way more than a stock Glock.
Check this post for the Glock clones and custom Glocks in one spectacular package deal.
Now You Have Guns, Ammo is Next….
Are you getting the best deals on guns, red dot sights, all that jazz? Well you’re here, so if not then you’re doing something about it.
Here are our favorite suppliers for your Glock pistol, or your new rival…
- Brownells – A great supplier of guns, ammo and bulk deals.
- PSA – Guns, ammo, a red dot sight, Trijicon RMR, the works. Daily gun deals.
Other Stuff
We got hunting, fishing, outdoor gear and more, not just a 9mm pistol, guns, ammo, open carry holsters and Glock upgrades. Camping, fishing and that stuff aren’t our forte, but we try for you. We also sell safes to responsible gun owners and we got a Trijicon RMR as well with daily gun deals.
We can sort you out with a fire control unit for a P320 or a single action Glock clone, too, which you can then build yourself. A fire control unit is hard work, though, when you can just buy a complete pistol for less.
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While I must agree with most of the author’s selections (the exceptions being the Ruger Security 9 and Canik TP9SA are inexpensive but offer few other attributes, and the PX4 Storm is just an over-priced hot mess) I have to take exception with the ranking order. I have shot all of the firearms on the list and the Walther PPQ deserves to be at the head of the list. I admit the Sig P320 is a close second, the PPQ is heads and shoulders above the rest. With a trigger rivaled by none, the best ergonomics by far, and the fact that the PPQ is offered in multiple calibers (.22, 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP), as well multiple configurations (Sub-Compact 3.5″, 4″, and full sized 5″ barrels, as well as tactical and the Q5 Match pistol), the PPQ leaves the other offerings in the dust.
HI, thanks for your input and yes I mentioned that some people love Walthers as much as other people love HKs and I absolutely can see your perspective!
The Security 9 is just a cheap nightstand pistol, but it’s very good at that one particular job for the money. Same with the Canik, a basic gun for basic money. The Beretta, I included them out of sympathy I think. I couldn’t include their plastic fantastic, it’s horrible, so the PX4 at least looks OK. I think Beretta is a mess right now generally, though, and might just take it off completely.
It’s funny, though, some people will tell you the Springfield Armory has the best trigger set. Other will tell you it’s the CZ. A lot of it comes down to personal feel, as we all know 🙂
Very true!
Who needs 9mm anyway? It’s heavier, it has greater recoil and it’s less accurate than smaller calibers.
Frankly I cannot think of any situation which requires the use of a handgun, which would not be resolved by a smaller caliber gun, and with less disastrous consequences.
You can certainly make the case, but 9mm seems to be the sweet spot for me in terms of capacity, impact, grouping and simple tech. It has become the standard, so you’ve got more people developing firearms for them. That competition has kind of turned 9mm being the best into a self-fulfilling prophesy I guess.
Sure.i agreed with you
I have it on this order all on 9mm
H,&k
Ppq -p99
Cz
Sig
Glock 43x
Beretta
Xd
S&w
Guns, lots of guns! Sorry I couldn’t help it. I think you’re going to have a lot of fun with them. Especially the PPQ and HK. Grudgingly, I have to confess the Glock 43x is kinda great too. But you’re going to have a ball with those.
Great article, but learn the difference between a mag and a clip.
Is there a better weapon than the Q5 match polymer? for example what about the “Archon Firearms B, Cz shadow and Taran Glock?
The Archon you could have a point, I can add it now that it’s freely available. The CZ Shadow is a different kind of gun, it’s all metal and not really a carry pistol in the conventional sense. It’s great, but that’s why it’s the winner of our full-size 9mm pistols post! So yes, but in this instance also no.
As for the Taran Glock, I have it in a few other places, including this custom Glock post. But it’s certainly not a conventional rival for a Glock, just a really expensive custom Glock.
Is there a better weapon than the Q5 Polymer? Well the metal framed gun is an option, and that’s very sexy, if a little expensive. But if you’re getting into the best guns, price tag be damned, then those posts I mentioned above have some interesting options for you.
I understand, personally, the steel frames I do not like much, but I have heard from the CZ shadow that they are tremendous weapons, I still do not think it is better than the Q5 match, and if you confirmed that Taran is simply a Lexus of the toyota! In conclusion in box weapons there is no direct competition with the Q5 match polymer and Q5 match SF?
What about the Sig X-FIVE? The HK VP9 and latest Glock 34s are very, very good as well. In that price bracket, you’ve got some real options and that’s just the striker-fired pistols.
Tanfoglio is there making some really nice guns, especially if you’re looking for outright accuracy. CZ, ReX, take your pick. There are some real nice weapons in that quick and dirty list.
The Q5 Match is exceptional, and it might well be the best gun for you. It’s one of the best out there, but I think there aren’t many real duds out there at the moment in this sector. It’s too cut throat for that. So really you’re looking at personal feel to separate the good, the great and the very best.
So I wouldn’t dispute YOU saying it’s the best, but I wouldn’t quite go that far myself.
I understand, personally, the steel frames I do not like much, but I have heard from the CZ shadow that they are tremendous weapons, I still do not think it is better than the Q5 match, and if you confirmed that Taran is simply a Lexus of the toyota! In conclusion in box weapons there is no direct competition with the Q5 match polymer and Q5 match SF?
Not really a complain about the article itself, but I got to the article by trying to search for “cheaper alternatives to Glock 19“. Most of the guns on this list were the same price or even a little more than the Glock 19. What, three entries that were considerably cheaper? And two of those were inches larger in every dimension. So not really a compare ball Cary to the Glock 19. The one shining Exception would be the Taurus.
Totally agree with you as things stand right now. A lot of them have got more expensive, Glocks too tbh. Before we had a mix of cheaper and better, now the balance is slightly off as we have added some more expensive guns that are readily available to actually buy. That’s important.
Some of the cheaper guns have been basically sold out for a long time. So we took a decision to widen the base and offer some guns you can buy today, ish. At the same time we decided to offer alternatives to the G43 and G34 in the post, because it gave us a chance to include a couple of really interesting guns. So I take your point, totally on the chin. That’s kinda why, if it helps!
It’s all subjective in the long run I’ve owned Springfields, HKs, Colts, S&W, and Rugers before settling down on glock.
I like how it handles recoils with the lower bore axis (Sigs and hammer fired HKs take longer to get back on target because of this in my experience).
15 round mags are perfect too in my opinion. Springfield overloads theirs and you get rounds that jiggle sometimes while you’re walking around and it sounds like a maraca if you even try to jog. Besides anymore and you’re getting too heavy but if it’s a big deal just order the 17,19 or 33 round glock factory mags lol (can’t do that with most of those).
And calling glock a Toyota is dead on lol. Toyota’s are reliable as all hell just like the glock.
Not to mention the insane amount of parts and accessories available for Glocks can only be rivaled by the 1911 or AR.
But really it’s comes down to what the individual shoots best and feels comfortable with.